revealed religion, and of every political ideology, have been afflicted ... If we wish this historic meeting to succeed, we must focus on the common denominators that unite us”. The Madrid Declaration was consistent with these sound principles, since it affirmed the unity of origin and equality of human beings notwithstanding differences of color, race and culture, as well as the need to respect human dignity, protect human rights, preserve peace, fulfill commitments and give effect to the right of peoples to security, freedom and self-determination. The Madrid Declaration called for the rejection of theories affirming the inevitability of a clash of civilizations and cultures, warned of the dangers of campaigns seeking to intensify conflict and disrupt peaceful coexistence, and advocated the dissemination of a culture of tolerance and mutual understanding through dialogue as a framework for international relations. --More
